First day of school in St. Vrain Valley: Longmont Estates starts with new principal, STEM program

A new principal, plus a new STEM focus and new movement program, added up to extra excitement for the first day at the 400-student Longmont Estates Elementary School.

"I have such great memories growing up here," said Principal Traci Haley, who attended Longmont Estates as a student and taught there as a student teacher. "It's just like coming home. It makes me even more invested. I want to be a principal who really cares about the kids and families."

Wednesday was the first day of school for most of the St. Vrain Valley School District's 31,000-plus students, with kindergarten students coming Friday.

Ella Forbes, 8, and her brother Dillon Forbes, 10, have their picture taken Wednesday morning next to the sculpture outside Longmont Estates Elementary. Dillon has had his picture taken there on the first day of school since he was in preschool. (Lewis Geyer / Staff Photographer)